Sunday, July 19, 2015

"Start the purple!" - Smoke Markers For "Hell's Highway"

For my upcoming Hell's Highway game the British will be able to call in an allied air strike by marking their target with purple smoke. I've also expanded my collection of telegraph/telephone poles to account for the longer table (14 more to add to my existing 7). Pictures and a walk through of how I created my purple smoke markers below.

Two purple smoke markers all done!

This is a classic scene from A Bridge Too Far when the Irish Guards start the long drive up Hell's Highway as an epic rolling barrage from British 25pdr artillery precedes the advance. When the German defensive positions open fire, the commander orders the tanks to "start the purple" (which he has to repeat as there is a lot of noise), after which the allied aircraft show up a drop some serious explosives on the Germans.

"Start the purple!"(Image: A Bridge Too Far)

Purple smoke fired to mark the location for theallied air attack against German defensive positions.(Image: A Bridge Too Far)

So, I figured I'd make two purple smoke markers for the game. A walk through of what I did to make them is below. Comments on in the picture captions.

Step 1: I used two washers as the hole in the middle (1/4")allowed me to make the crater where the shell hit alittle deeper into the base. I used a section of askewer stick to represent the smoke shell. Greenstuff created the raised impact area around the shell.

Step 2: I used a small hand drill to make a hole inone end of the "shell" (where the smoke is coming out).

Step 3: I used brass wire in the previously drilledhole. This wire provides an armature toaffix the "smoke" to.

Step 4: I use clump foliage from Woodland Scenics tocreate the smoke. A small diameter when the smokeis coming from the shell that expands as it goes upinto the air (you can bend the brass wire slightlyto represent wind pushing the smoke).

Step 5: I apply a thick spray coat of black primer. Thisprovides the shadows in the smoke cloud.

Step 6: I use white spray paint at a distance (start farand move closer until you are getting just theraised parts of the clump foliage). I use whiteas I want the purple to "pop" - it you apply thepurple straight over the black the color will be dull.

Step 9: I drybrush three layers - first is GW Rhinox Hide(heavy drybrush), followed by lighter drybrushing ofGW Steel Legion Drab and GW Zandri Dust. I alsopaint the "shell" brass to make it stand out.

Step 10: Add some tufts and you are all done!

I'm happy with how they came out ... this didn't take long at all ... I was basing my telephone poles in between steps that needed some drying time. 14 new telephone poles based and ready for gaming!

4Ground telephone poles based and ready to go.

I'm looking forward to the play test of Hell's Highway next weekend. All of my buildings I had to add to my collection of 4Ground buildings are built and in the process of getting their roofs tiled (thanks to help from Mr. Roy Scaife who is pitching in for the greater good!). I have to paint up a 6pdr gun in the "towing" configuration. Good progress on vehicles as well ... they should be "playable" (basic colours and shading done) by the game ... I'll still have to do the mickey mouse camo and decals afterwards though (before giving them back to Mr. Seth to do the weathering). So all is on track so far.

Very cool, nice to see something a bit different. I love the tie in with the movie too, such a classic. The German anti-tank gun fire was so effective, you really see what an asset the allied air power was.